Improved steering apparatus



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

F. P. DUPRAZ, S. M. DUMONT, AND JOHN DIOKASON, OF VEVAY, INDIANA.

IIIVIFRVED STEERING AFFARA'TUSl Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,791, dated October 16, 1866.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Bcitknown that we, FRANKP. DUPRAZ, SID- NEY M. DUMONT, and J oEN DrcKAsoN, all of Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana, have invented anew and uset'ul Improveinentin Steering Apparatus for Vessels; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wing, the same being a top view of a steering apparatus embodying our improvement.

Our invention consists in the provision of an intermediate eccentric sheave and wiudlass between thc customary pilot-wheel and the tiller, whereby the rudder from its midway position to either 'side may be operated by a progressive power or mechanical leverage and the circuit connection ot' rope always remain taut. y

A B represent a pilot-wheel and hub or wiudlass of the common form.

The tiller-rope C is secured to the hub B in the usual manner, but instead of passing direct to the tiller is engaged around a doublyspiral pulley, D, having a drum or wiudlass, E, whose diameter is intermediate between the extremes of the spiral pulley D.

The double eccentric pulley and wiudlass D E is repeated (D E) on the other side ot' the pilot-wheel. From the drum or wiudlass E and E the tiller-rope is carried around customary sheaves F to the tiller G, which may be of any approved or usual construction.

Operation Itbeing desired, for example, to put the rudder to starboard, the wheel is rotated in direction of the arrow, so as to unwind the portion 1 of the rope from the eccentric or spiral pulleyD', and to wind the portion 2 of said rope upon the drum E. It is evident that at the commencement of the operation, the portion l of the rope operating upon a part of the spiral pulley D of less diameter' than the drum E', a less movement of the wheel will sulice to produce a given movement of the rudder than if the rope were carried direct to the tiller in the ordinary way but as the movement proceeds the rope l climbsupou a larger and larger portion of the pulley D until it acquires apurchase or leverage which increases regularly until the rudder is hard up; but as this purchase or leverage is accompanied by a slower and slower motion of the pulley-shaft it ismauifest that slack would arise were it not for the provision of the drum E', which takes up all of the slack. Vhile these movements are in progress the opposite pulleyis, through the medium of its drum, giving out slack in eXAact proportion to the take up of the, for the time being, effective roller. By these means the pilot is enabled to move the tiller rapidly by a comparatively slight motion ofthe wheel when the rudder is near amidships, and is enabled to exert a force of nearly 'our to one when the rudder is hard up.

It will be perceived that our improved steering apparatus is equally applica-ble in a backward as well as in aforward motion ofthe boat.

Te claim herein as new and of our invention- Y l. The intermediate sheave or double spiral and drum D E, constructed substantially as set forth, for the purpose specilied.

2. The arrangement of wheel A, druln B, rope or chain O, drums E E', pulleys D D F, and tiller G, forming a progressive powersteering apparatus, as described.

In testimony of which invention we hereunto set our hands.

FRANK P. DUPRAZ. SIDNEY M. DUMONT. JOHN DIOKASON. lVitnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, J AMEs H. LAYMAN. 

